Best schools around Lynchburg?

[JanD]

I have two girls at Linkhorne Middle in Lynchburg. Love it. Advanced classes (including 3 HS credit classes in 8th--Earth Science, Languare, Math), very interested teachers, format changing to offer more enrichment (read: advanced) classes, NJHS, strong sports program, good variety of after-school clubs. My 8th grader is in a Gifted Art program and has been recommended to bypass the first year of art in HS (which gives her more time to take the many Art electives there). Elementary: Like DebPitt (a friend), one daughter went to Gifted school for 4 & 5. Wonderful. Other daughter stayed at Paul Munro Elem K-5. If elem a considertion, go for Paul Munro, then Bedford Hills or Linkhorne. Go for Linkhorne Middle and EC Glass HS. Glass and Heritage (other HS) both make US News & Reports' Top High Schools, but most here prefer Glass. Just noticed their website is not up-to-date, but school has large number of dual enrollement and AP classes, well recognized by top Eastern colleges (UVa, Tech, W&M), lots of strong elective programs (art, language, drama--which is nationally recognized), good afterschool clubs, civic opportunities, etc. Also Va. Governor's School for Science & Technology, and Va. School of the Arts (dance focus). Not totally up on county schools, but don't think I'd recommend any besides Forest, but they are exp. huge growth and my friend's 6th grader has ALL classes in trailers this year! Jefferson Forest HS is also over-packed and needs major renovation or rebuild (Glass just finished major renovation). James River Day School is a very good private K-8 school. After 8th, kids usually choose City schools or VES, local college prep school w/ boarders and day students--hear good things about it, but lots of $. Yes, I'm biased on all this, but an opinion is all I have to give. On race issue: to be blunt, go James River, VES or catholic or christian schools if you want white--lilly white almost--environment. Personally, want my kids to be with as much diversity (race, economic, family structure) as possible. Neither girl has had race problems (by the way, race here is primarily african american--very little hispanic, asian, etc). My girls have both black and white friends--my oldest daughter's best friend is a black girl, whom I adore. My girls tell me most kids tend to self-segregate, which I think is sad. Very few seem to cross the racial lines. Some peo have told me Glass is like "2 different schools." We have our share of drugs, some gang activity, etc.--like every city, just in a smaller dose--but I understand one can fairly easily avoid it at Glass. Hope this helps. Post more questions (or email direct) if I can help more. For me, I couldn't like Lynchburg more. It is a "great place to raise a family"--which you will hear about 50 times a day when you ask peo about the city. Good luck!

[sand70]

Thanks, everyone for the input! Husband started the job there in Lynchburg, and we are getting excited about the move.

Don't get me wrong - I'm all for diversity. (I'm a military brat!) I'm just uneasy about racial tension; I don't know if there's more of it in the South, and in an area with no military around.

So, what parts of Lynchburg go to Linkhorne Middle, and E.C. Glass High?

[JanD]

Don't worry--I didn't think you were racist. If I hadn't lived in a small town in the South, I'd wonder the same thing!! You actually have a pretty good spread of neighborhoods slated for LMS and ECG. If you work with a real estate agent, they can show you appropriate houses. If not, the ads and MLS listings list school districts. Depending on your resources, you might want to start in the Boonsboro section. Nice houses, a good range of prices. Probably range from 100,000-150,000 in the neighborhoods which are still 'turning', up to $800,00--though very few are at that level--you could buy just about ANY house in L'burg for $800,000. Could get a very nice house in a very nice neighborhood for $250,000 and up. You get a lot of house (and many times lots of trees) for your money. Older homes are closer to each other, newer ones offer more land. Not "right on top of each other." I think you will be pleasantly surprised! Not sure where your husband is working, but very few of us travel 25 miles to work--I'd say usually less than 15, most closer. If you'd like, let us know your price range and where your husband works and we can guide you better. When will you be arriving?

[jfcheer08]

I go to Jefferson Forest High School, currently under renovations. IF you're moving to lynchburg you should go with the Lynchburg schools. EC Glass offers far more classes than JF. It also has an amazing Drama program. I believe it has more social issues though. What with the extremely rich 03's and then the much poorer kids that go there as well. Racial problems aren't so bad at JF either. I mean there is some, but nothing you wouldn't see elsewhere. The thing most people don't like about JF(mostly the kids that actually go there) is it is kept at an abnormally low temperature all year long. Last year i had many days of wearing multiple sweatshirts and never dreamed of wearing shorts or skirts or anything of that sort. It also smells like a toilet in some areas. Hopefully after renovations they will be able to fix all this.